Sam's grand estate, while not the largest in Saudi Arabia, was undeniably the most luxurious.
Every detail, down to the tiles of the swimming pool, was inlaid with various precious jades, and the water was replaced daily with fresh.
It housed over sixty elites, specifically selected from the military, serving as Prince Sam's personal guard.
Additionally, there were hundreds of servants solely dedicated to attending to him.
Soon, Ye Cangtian and his two companions were invited into the opulent villa, a place that could only be described as resplendent, leaving Huang Wu and Huang San, who had accompanied them, wide-eyed.
Though Ye Cangtian was also impressed, he wasn't particularly interested in the extravagance.
His primary goal was to understand the current situation within the Saudi royal family and gauge Prince Sam's confidence in claiming the throne.
According to Prince Sam's account, the royal family was already rife with internal strife. Despite the calm surface, it was on the verge of collapse at any moment.
With the old king gravely ill, Princess Shibeiya was temporarily handling royal affairs. Although she was capable and managed the entire royal family in an orderly fashion,
A woman, after all, was still a woman. No matter how outstanding, she was susceptible to gossip.
However, His Majesty the King had a legitimate son, Prince Abdurrahman Al Saud, who had already reached adulthood and was the king's sole heir. Yet, this prince lacked any experience in governance.
The Saudi royal family had numerous members, with over a hundred holding the title of prince. Among them, three possessed significant influence, and Prince Sam was one of them.
It was these three princes vying for power, and Prince Sam, being the most influential among them, was most likely to gain control. Consequently, he didn't take the other two princes seriously.
"The other two are of no consequence. Currently, the biggest obstacle for this prince is Shibeiya. Once I seize power, some old guards will surely try to stop me!" Prince Sam stated coldly.
"Your Highness, with your current prestige, why not simply bide your time? Princess Shibeiya, given the present circumstances, will soon lose support. When that happens, you can step in under the guise of saving the royal family and seize power with ease."
"You mean for me to wait?"
Prince Sam grumbled dismissively, then added, "I cannot wait. If that old man suddenly wakes up one day, all my plans will be for naught!"
He withdrew a list from his clothing and handed it to Ye Cangtian.
It contained names, current positions, and reputations, all belonging to influential royal ministers.
Ye Cangtian glanced at it and raised an eyebrow. "Does Your Highness mean for us to eliminate these individuals on the list?"
"Precisely!"
A strong killing intent flashed across Prince Sam's face. "Those on the list are either supporters of Shibeiya's faction or aligned with my two rivals.
Once they are eliminated, there will be no one left in the royal family to oppose me! Moreover, with such a major incident occurring within the royal family, Shibeiya will be held accountable, and I can then legitimately step forward to save the entire kingdom!"
"Your Highness is indeed well-prepared!"
Ye Cangtian offered superficial praise, but inwardly scoffed.
This Prince Sam, it seemed, was merely a rash individual with courage but no foresight, only knowing how to eliminate those who defied him, completely lacking in political acumen.
Even if he successfully ascended the throne by eliminating dissenting voices, he would only inherit a turbulent and unstable royal family.
If such a person were to become the new king, he would likely lead the royal family towards gradual decline.
Of course, Ye Cangtian merely thought this and did not voice it.
"We can handle the individuals on this list, but I hope Prince Sam will not forget the terms of our cooperation!" Ye Cangtian said calmly, tucking away the list.
"Naturally, I will not forget!"
Prince Sam laughed heartily, then, in his delight, uncorked an expensive bottle of red wine and raised his glass. "Then, to a successful collaboration!"
"To a successful collaboration!"
Ye Cangtian raised his glass and drained it in one go, a slight smile gracing his lips.
...
After leaving Prince Sam's private estate, it was not yet late.
Ye Cangtian and his two companions found lodging at an ordinary hotel in the capital city.
Even the most basic hotels here were outrageously expensive, let alone luxurious or even comfortable.
Huang San asked curiously, "Steward, why aren't we staying at the hotel arranged by Prince Sam? I heard it's a six-star establishment!"
Huang Wu nodded in agreement. The prince was wealthy, so why not take advantage of it?
Ye Cangtian frowned and cast a stern glance at the two. "Don't forget we are here on a mission, not for leisure!"
"Furthermore, staying at a hotel arranged by them means our every move is under their surveillance, and they could even set a trap for us!"
"When undertaking tasks, the most important thing is to trust no one and act with caution at all times!"
Hearing this, the two widened their eyes, having never considered these implications.
A shiver ran down their spines. They were fortunate that their superior was so thoughtful; otherwise, they could be in danger at any moment.
At this moment, they were filled with genuine admiration for Ye Cangtian, truly deserving of the recognition from Lord Zi Long.
Seeing the awestruck looks on their faces, Ye Cangtian inwardly mused that he was merely bluffing, and they had actually believed him.
His reason for choosing this modest establishment was actually to facilitate his upcoming actions.
"There are a total of twelve people on this list. Eight of them are loyal ministers to His Majesty, considered to be in support of Shibeiya!"
"The remaining four are those who support the other two princes."
"We will begin investigating these individuals tonight, checking their daily routines, residences, and escorts, to ensure the success of our subsequent assassinations."
Ye Cangtian began assigning tasks. Seeing the two nod, he added seriously, "Remember, we must not alert them at this stage. It is not yet time to act!"
Once the day had completely darkened, the three began to split up and carry out their respective duties.
...
Huang Wu and Huang San were tasked with investigating the eight ministers who supported Shibeiya, while Ye Cangtian took responsibility for investigating the four individuals associated with the other princes.
However, after the three parted ways, Ye Cangtian did not proceed to the residences of the four individuals on the list. Instead, he found a secluded spot and removed his mask.
A moment later, having changed his attire and removed his mask, he made his way towards the royal palace.
Actually, Ye Cangtian's heart was filled with mixed emotions!
If this matter hadn't been so critical, he wouldn't have wanted to meet Shibeiya at all, as he felt a slight twinge of guilt towards her.
While he didn't wish to face Shibeiya, he even less desired for her to be harmed.